Watch CBS News

SoCal Beach Reopens After Surfer Encounters Shark

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. (AP) -- Orange County beaches will reopen a day after being shut down when surfers scrambled out of the water following a shark sighting.

Surfer David Charles said he was waiting for a wave Sunday at Bolsa Chica State Beach when two other surfers spotted what they thought might be a dolphin.

Charles says he saw the tail of a shark thrashing in the water right behind him. Charles and the others paddled quickly to shore.

READ MORE CBS LA: Shark Encounter At Bolsa Chica State Beach

He estimates the shark was at least six feet long.

Officials deemed the sighting credible and closed a stretch of about a mile of Bolsa Chica and Huntington State beaches. The beaches will reopen Monday.

There have been shark sightings up and down the California coast in recent months.

In October, a cluster of 20 sharks were spotted swimming off the coast of Pacifica.

© Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.